Woolbury Ring, Stockbridge, Hampshire, Hampshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd was appointed by Hugo Baiao (Estate Manager) on behalf of Donald Hutchinson, to carry out an archaeological Watching Brief at Woolbury Ring Hillfort, Stockbridge, Hampshire. The archaeological works focus upon the unauthorised excavation of a new water pipe trench across the site of the Scheduled Woolbury Ring Iron Age Hillfort The watching brief, and this Report, are requirements of Historic England that form conditions of Scheduled Monument Consent covering the excavation of the water pipe trench, granted under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas act 1979, as amended. The watching brief required the archaeological inspection and recording of the full length of the excavated pipe trench and inspection of the spoil removed for artefacts, in satisfaction of the conditions. In conclusion the digging of the water pipe trench within Woolbury Ring impacted a total of five features including the main hillfort ditch. Two ditches, which correspond to earlier geophysics, and a large shallow pit contained finds dating to the Late Roman period. A single small subcircular pit was seen but no dating evidence recovered. It may seem unusual that the only archaeology uncovered during the watching brief dates to the late Roman period but is not unsurprising when compared to Cunliffe's earlier excavation at Woolbury, which uncovered little evidence of Iron Age or prehistoric activity within the hillfort and unlike Danebury, Woolbury did not develop as a major focal point of habitation, and is thought to be out of use by the end of the 4th century BC. However, it is thought a that a small farming community, was established in the late Iron age which continued throughout the Roman period, until the late 4th Century. It is probable that the feature found in the watching brief relate to this second phase of occupation in the Roman period.